Rock n Roll Graffiti is a weekly column spotlighting engaging music personalities. The column stresses not only rock 'n' roll, but blues, jazz, country and folk. Stories feature a nostalgic look at Michigan's stars, local musicians and beloved rock legends, all from a personal, Upper Peninsula perspective. Music memories are recalled with an entertaining presentation of facts, a dash of opinion, and a bit of humor, all meant to bring a smile or nod of acknowledgment from the reader.

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Peninsula label issued singles

Peninsula Records promotional poster

By STEVE SEYMOUR

Escanaba's burgeoning rock scene in the 1960s resulted in a record label being founded here which released a pair of 45 rpm singles by local bands.

Peninsula Records was organized in late 1967 by promoter Gene Smiltneck, who booked rock acts through his business, Bands Unlimited. However, the label was actually owned by Smiltneck's brother Leon since the American Federation of Musicians wouldn't allow an individual to own a label and be licensed as a booking agent.

Recordings by The Riot Squad and Prophets of Doom, two of Escanaba's best known groups of the era, were issued by the label.

Announcing the formation of Peninsula Records in a press release at the time, Gene Smiltneck said, "Having been a musician and more or less knowing the ropes of the business, I began having a wonderful group of kids called The Riot Squad to my house for practice sessions and this led to an arrangement by which I became their booking agent. In the spring of 1967, we began talking about recordings and began to work up some arrangements on a few songs.

"We decided that there was more to gain than lose in producing a record featuring The Riot Squad. I began to make arrangements which led to the birth of Peninsula Records and our first recording," Smiltneck added.

Peninsula Records' debut release was a pair of cover tunes by The Riot Squad, formed just two years earlier. The top side of the seven-inch disc was a version of Ritchie Valens' "Come On, Let's Go." Published by Kemo Music, the song became the first hit for the Latino star who died at age 17 in 1959 in the tragic plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.

The flip was a take on "Ferry Cross the Mersey," a tune Gerry and the Pacemakers took to number six in 1965. Appearing on The Riot Squad recording were vocalist Greg Curran, bassist Bob Anzalone, lead guitarist Brendan Williams, rhythm guitarist Jim Joque and drummer Dan Curran.

"With these selections, we had one fast number and one slow number. We altered the songs to fit our style," Joque recalled.

Anzalone noted he had a different choice for the flip of The Riot Squad 45, hoping to record a tune by Bobby Vee. The Riot Squad bass player was rooting for "More Than I Can Say," a minor hit from early 1961. Smiltneck, however, favored "Ferry," a smash for Gerry Marsden and his Liverpool group.

The Prophets, meanwhile, recorded a pair of original tunes for their single, both sung by bassist Dave Watchorn. The A side was a number called "I Told You," composed by Watchorn, while the B side was "Baba-Do-Wah," credited to Dave Brooks, a friend of Watchorn's from the Manistique area. Both songs were published by Five State & Hankbee Music of Yonkers, N. Y. Besides Watchorn, the Prophets of Doom included lead guitarist Larry Olivares, rhythm guitarist Mike Steede, drummer Jim Nelson and organ player Jim Smith.

Olivares had moved to Escanaba from Los Angeles, where he had met Ed King, lead guitarist for the psychedelic band Strawberry Alarm Clock. "They had just released 'Incense and Peppermints,' and I really liked King's lead guitar on the song. I was actually trying to replicate it on 'I Told You.' When I did the lead, I had this really neat fuzz box, a Vox Tone-Bender, I got in California. It didn't work well at low volume, so the lead stuff actually sounds like I used an electric sitar that was on the market at the time."

The Prophets recorded Brooks' tune because they didn't have a B side for the record, Olivares noted. "It was a typical early sixties kind of crooner love song. We actually did considerable re-arranging of the original version. It's still one of my favorites," he added.

Both discs appeared with a light blue label, which listed the address of Peninsula Records as 1616 11th Ave. So., Smiltneck's home. By the time the Prophets of Doom record was issued, the label also included the firm's telephone number, as well.

In fact, the songs issued on the label were recorded in the basement of the small house on Escanaba's south-side where Smiltneck lived at the time. Joque recalled: "Gene modified the basement with padded walls to get a good recording sound. I think he had some good state of the art recorders and we laid two tracks. We worked many hours to get the two songs down for recording. I was excited because I got to use my 12-string."

Joque was complimentary about Smiltneck. "Gene coached us with the music, engineered and produced the recordings. He had a good ear and knowledge of the business at that time."

One thousand copies of each disc were manufactured at a custom pressing plant in Cincinnati called Queen City, Smiltneck recollected.

"I remember a few of us from The Riot Squad, together with Gene, would drive around the Upper Peninsula to various businesses, like cafes, bars and record shops to promote and sell the records. Although we really were not in it for making revenue, other than covering the cost of making the record, our intentions were to promote The Riot Squad as a 'recorded' band," Joque recalled.

Was a third 45 ever considered? "No," Smiltneck responded. "We didn't profit from the sales. But the airplay certainly created popularity for both bands."

U. P. Jukebox

About the music on this blog

Michigan's rock history concentrates on the southeastern part of the state, deservedly so. Although the Detroit area produced some great music in the 1960s, the Upper Peninsula's contribution to the rock 'n' roll revolution of the era shouldn't be discounted. Sure the U. P. is isolated and sparsely peopled, with only three percent of the state's population. But, the fact that no band based north of the Mackinac Bridge registered a Top 40 hit in the 1960s was due to a conspiracy of geography, not a lack of quality material. Groups from across the region issued strong 45 rpm singles in their attempts to gain greater recognition and national fame as the rock 'n' roll spirit pervaded the U. P.

There were the Excels and French Church from Marquette, Riot Squad and Prophets of Doom from Escanaba, Rob Kirk and the Word and Renaissance Fair from Sault Ste. Marie, the Henchmen VI and Vigilantes from tiny Ontonagon, Joey Gee and the Come-ons and the Ravelles from Iron Mountain. Menominee had the Benders, Alston had the Rhythm Rockers, Kingsford boasted the Lexington Project, Ironwood contributed Danny and the Galaxies and Houghton touted the Kinetics.

Today, most of these songs are quite hard to come by, but they unashamedly reflect the dreams and aspirations of the the U. P.'s younger generation all those years ago.

So, give a listen and decide for yourself which tunes could have been hits, if only...

Rock 'n' Roll Graffiti now a book!

The 300-page volume, which includes dozens of photographs, spotlights engaging music personalities, stressing not only rock, but blues, jazz, country and folk.

Seymour said the soft-cover book surveys the music scene with an "entertaining presentation of facts, a dash of opinion, and a bit of humor, all meant to bring a smile or nod of acknowledgement from the reader."

The writer assembled the book from weekly music columns he wrote which originally appeared in the "That's Entertainment" section of the Daily Press, published every Thursday, beginning in the summer of 2005.

The book takes a nostalgic look at Michigan's stars, local musicians and beloved international rock legends, all from a personal, Upper Peninsula perspective, Seymour noted.

Divided into seven parts, "Rock 'n' Roll Graffiti" contains many music-related stories about the local rock scene of the 60s and the U. P.'s contribution to music over the years. Not stopping there, the author also included thoughts on the many concerts he's seen as well as sections about the blues and the Beatles.

"People have been asking me to put these stories into a book for well over a year now. Virtually every week I've gotten so many great comments and emails. I finally took them seriously," he said.

The book was printed by Instantpublisher.com, the short-run publishing division of Funcraft Publishing Co., located in Collierville, Tenn.

"I hope folks have as much fun reading these stories as I've had writing them," he added. Seymour and his wife Sue own the Record Rack in downtown Escanaba.

Seymour commented: "I've enjoyed rock music and writing since I was a teenager in the 60s. I feel lucky to have been around when rock's greatest stars created their most enduring hits."

A graduate of Central Michigan University, Seymour worked for the Daily Press and Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress before going into the retail record business in 1985.

"Rock 'n' roll has always been integral to me and for the last 22 years I've been earning my living from it even though I don't have a musical bone in my body," Seymour noted.

Copies of "Rock 'n' Roll Graffiti" are available for $11.98 at the Record Rack, 1212 Ludington St., Escanaba, Michigan 49829 or through paypal ($11.98 plus $4.00 postage).

About me

I've enjoyed rock music and writing since I was a teenager in the 60s. I feel lucky to have been around when rock's greatest stars created their most enduring hits. At the same time I found I enjoyed writing, as well. I worked on my high school newspaper and magazine, was editor of several college publications and earned a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University in 1973. I worked for the daily newspaper in my hometown after graduating, becoming managing editor after a few years. By the 1980s, I moved into public relations. In 1985, my wife Sue and I opened a retail music store, The Record Rack, which we still own. Rock 'n' roll has been integral to me and for the last 2O years I've been earning my living from it even though I don't have a musical bone in my body. In recent years, I've also I edited a small local magazine and launched a micro FM radio station. Now, I'm finally combining my love of writing and rock 'n' roll. I can't sing a note, but I know what I like. I'll tell you all about it when you read on. I hope you have as much enjoyment reading these installments as I've had writing them.